Globalization and National Industrial Relations Systems: Theoretical Implications from the Singapore Case

In the 1960’s, Kerr and his associates (1973[1960]) — Dunlop, Harbison, and Myers— proposed the convergence thesis, which resonates with the “end of ideology” thesis propounded by Bell (1962). Not surprisingly, the thesis about the inevitability of societal convergence prompted some scholars to look for continuing diversity, an oft-cited prime example being Japan (Dore, 1973). Indeed, until the late 1980’s, Japan was still touted as a critical case which not only defied the convergence thesis, but could also serve as a growth model worthy of emulation by developing countries aspiring to First World living standards and, paradoxically, even developed countries experiencing economic stagnation (Vogel, 1980).